15 November 1976

Railroad Buffs Run Their Own 2-Mile Line

Sumpter Oregon USA - Most railroad buffs satisfy themselves with electric trains and singing songs about Casey Jones and the Wabash Cannonball. Not the Sumpter Valley Railroad Restoration Association.
 
This group has its own railroad.
 
Its 200 members worked on and off for five years to restore two miles of track of the Sumpter Valley Railway, which went out of business more than 30 years ago. They have erected their own depot near this eastern Oregon town.
 
They also have a locomotive.
 
The line was dedicated last summer, and the whole community turned out to ride on the train.
 
"It's kind of a hobby that got out of hand", said Lee Meyers, association treasurer.
 
"I've always wanted my own electric train, but the real thing is a lot more exciting", said Dale Shumway, vice president.
 
The Sumpter Valley Railway was built in 1910 for the burgeoning logging and mining industries of the area. It was abandoned in the early 1940s. The ties were slavaged and used elsewhere. Only the roadbed was left.
 
One of the association members is George Eccels, a descendant of a founder of the line.
 
He said it was fun to plan a railroad, but that laying ties and track is hard work, especially if you've worked all day on a regular job.
 
Association members started working on the railroad in their spare time in 1971.
 
Nels Christensen, association president, said everyone involved likes the railroads and felt that building a railroad line was the best way of pursuing their interests. If you like railroads, you like railroads.
 
Christensen is an ironworker. He was invaluable when it came to rebuilding the group's pride and joy, a 1910 wood burning Heisler locomotive.
 
The association begged and borrowed to buy the engine from Boise Cascade Corporation for US$7,500, along with some open air observation and flatcars.
 
The locomotive and rolling stock were hauled to Baker, Oregon, from Idaho with the help of the Union Pacific Railroad. Union Pacific also donated nearly two miles of 36 inch narrow gauge track and granted permission for the restoration. It owns the Sumpter Valley right-of-way.
 
Today the group gives rides on the railroad and keeps the equipment shining. Are they happy they're done. Nope.
 
Christensen said the group would like to get more track from Union Pacific. They want to extend the line from the present two miles to six miles, from the depot to Sumpter.
 
Like we said, if you like railroads, you like railroads.